Know Your Natives – Trumpet Honeysuckle
Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family is a twining vine with spectacular, red and orange, trumpet-shaped flowers. The genus name honors Adam Lonicer,* a German botanist and herbalist. The specific epithet from the Latin for “always” and “green,” denotes the plant’s evergreen foliage in warmer climates. Occurrence…
Know Your Natives – Scarlet Rose Mallow
Scarlet rose mallow or swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) of the Mallow or Cotton (Malvaceae) family is a tall herbaceous perennial with large, spectacular, scarlet (rarely white) flowers. The genus name is an old Greek name for “mallow”. The specific epithet is Latin for “scarlet”. The species occurs in scattered areas…
Know Your Natives – Red Buckeye
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia var. pavia*) of the recently expanded Soapberry (Sapindaceae) family–it now includes the maples from the former Aceraceae as well as the buckeyes and horse-chestnuts previously classified in the Hippocastanaceae–has large, showy red inflorescences in early spring. The genus name, a classical name for an oak tree,…
Know Your Natives – Eastern Prickly Pear
Eastern prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa, formerly Opuntia compressa)* of the Cactus (Cactaceae) family is a mostly prostrate stem-succulent with large, bright yellow, spectacular flowers. Like most members of its family, the species is adapted to thrive in arid habitats. Interestingly, the cactus family (with the exception of a single species)…
Know Your Natives – Fire Pink
Fire pink (Silene virginica) of the Pink or Carnation (Caryophyllaceae) family is an herbaceous woodland perennial with bright red flowers. In the U.S., fire pink is found from Florida to New York and westward to northeast Texas, Kansas and Minnesota. In Arkansas, it occurs across the highlands of the northwestern…
Know Your Natives – Cardinal Flower
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) of the Bellflower (Campanulaceae) family is a showy herbaceous perennial. In the U.S., it occurs from California, Nebraska and Minnesota, southward and eastward. In Arkansas, it occurs statewide. Cardinal flower is found in year-round moist to wet soils along streams and lakes, prairie swales, springs, swamps,…
Neat Plant Alert – Scarlet Beardtongue
The recent ANPS field trip to Poison Springs Natural Area and nearby back roads was very productive! Trip leader Meredith York took us to see some great plants, many of which are rare in Arkansas. The most spectacular sight of the day was without a doubt Scarlet Beardtongue (Penstemon murrayanus).…
Arkansas Native Plant Society 